My first day is in the books. I wrote about things
briefly on Letterboxd, but I'll do the quicker hits here.
La La Land - Opened last night, and was enjoyable enough. Unironic, but not super ambitious either, though the ending worked. I have a touchy relationship with musicals, and this didn't change that.
Neruda - I have a lot more reading to do, but almost a great opening film for Friday because I'm pretty sure it contained both talk of communists/communism and had naked men, two things that cropped up in pretty much everything I saw today.
Being 17 - A coming of age film that looked good, but hardly delicate or subtle. Not that all films need those things, but when you're talking about identity exploration and formation you kind of want them. A pretty good film, as most French things I've seen tend to be.
The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki - I haven't seen Raging Bull or Rocky, but this isn't really a boxing movie anyway. It feels real, and it's funny, and it looks really pretty. It didn't floor me, but it's very good. Surprised this wasn't also a French film. The director was there, and he had some insight to provide about Finnish cinema, which was cool to hear.
MeTube 2 - This was maybe the best thing I saw today, though twas only a short, and more visually nuts than anything.
My Entire High School Sinking In To The Sea - Again, more visually nuts than anything, and very clear with the thematic exploration and allegory it was attempting to make, but really fun and funny. China, IL by way of Superjail.
Unfortunately that last one ran late, so I missed the opening to
In The Age Of Shadows, which I really wanted to see, but also didn't want to miss the opening 10-15 minutes. Hopefully I can catch up with that on video since I'll miss its other showing as well. Could have seen another one, but was bummed about Age Of Shadows and ended up heading home around 10. A solid first day, but nothing exceptional, unlike the past two years.
EDIT: For curious minds...
Neruda - Equal split communism and male nudity.
Being 17 - More male nudity, not as much communism.
Olli Maki - More male nudity, a little communism.
MeTube 2 - Just bondage stuff.
High School - More communism, no male nudity.